IP Community Meeting and Seminar

Human Resource Development for IP Experts
Cambodian Experience

PHIN Sovath, LL.D.
Partner, Bun & Associates (B&A)
Professor, Pannasastra University of Cambodia (PUC)
March 5, 2018
MyIPO Building, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
1Outline of the Presentation
1. Introduction
2. National Intellectual Property Strategy:
Education and Training
3. Development of IP Human Resource
4. Concluding Remarks2

1. Introduction (1)• The most interesting short and medium term
challenges for Cambodian IP professionals andpolicy-makers are:
– To increase broad public awareness about thevalue of IPRs; and– To deepen the use of IPRs by Cambodianbusinesses, particularly SMEs.

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1. Introduction (2)• The National IP Strategy for Cambodia 2013-2018(NIPS) offers an interesting review of current
limited use of IP protections in Cambodia across
key sectors of its economy and opportunities fordeepening their use:
– Agriculture and Agro-processing– Cultural sector– Educational sector– Health sector– Industry and commerce– Tourism4

2. National Intellectual Property Strategy (1)Objective 1:
Improve the capability and capacity within the Cambodian economy to provide and use intellectual property
services to support Cambodia’s economic development.
Sectors
Initiatives
Primary/Joint
Timing
Implementing
Ministries
Education
3Extend interdisciplinary intellectual property education to MoEYS
Mediumscience and engineering faculties in tertiary institutions&Training
termsuch as the Institute of Technology of Cambodia.
4Introduce into the curriculum of selected schools concepts MoEYS,
Mediumof innovation and the use of intellectual property system MoC,
to longer
and expand progressively to other schools.
term
MoCFA,MIME
Objective 2:
Improve the capability and capacity within the Cambodian Government to deliver intellectual property policy
and services to support Cambodia’s agricultural, commercial, industrial and cultural sectors and the tourism
industry.
Sectors
Initiatives
Primary/Joint Timing
Implementing
Ministries
Education
5Undertake a study to learn how other countries
MoEYS, MoC,
Mediumhave
usedintellectualproperty
education
tonurture
MoCFA,& Training
termcreativity within the education system.
MIME5

2. National Intellectual Property Strategy (2)Objective 3:
Improve awareness and understanding within the broader population of the economic role ofintellectual property to support the increasing use of the intellectual property system by Cambodianbusinesses.
Sectors

Education& Training

Initiatives

4-

Include intellectual property education in the curriculumfor science and business students to improve theawareness of graduates about how the intellectual
property system is an important developmental tool.

Primary/Joint Timing
Implementing
Ministries
Medium term
MoEYS

Objective 4:
Develop and maintain Cambodia’s intellectual property legislation with international standards tomeet Cambodia’s economic and social needs.
Sectors

Education& Training

Initiatives

5-

6-

Primary/Joint Timing
Implementing
Ministries
Establish mechanisms for more collaboration between theMedium
universities and the private sector in the area of joint
MoEYS
to longer
research and developing solutions to technical issues.
term
Undertake a detailed review of the Copyright Act toensure that all flexibilities that allow access to information MoEYS,
and knowledge for educational purposes are fully catered MoCFA
Mediumfor.
term

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3. Development of IP Human Resource (1)• Traditional Definitions:– “teaching”: the provision of knowledge on IP byinstitutions of higher education (including universitiesand high schools) essentially for the benefit ofstudents, within the formal/national system ofeducation;– “training”: the sharing of information, practicalknowledge and resources with a view to enhancing
the professional performance of adults who work in
the field of IP. In this case, the sharing of information
is essentially carried out by topic experts (and notnecessarily university professors).
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3. Development of IP Human Resource (2)• IP teaching programs currently not available athigh school level;• IP teaching programs currently held in Cambodia
provided by universities:– The Royal University of Law and Economics (RULE)– The Pannasastra University of Cambodia (PUC)– The Build Bright University(BBU)– The Norton University– The Mekong University– The National University of Management(NUM)
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3. Development of IP Human Resource (3)• Faculties involved– Law– Public Administration– Economics/management/Business• Faculties NOT involved– Pharmacy– Art– Social sciences– Natural sciences93. Development of IP Human Resource (4)• IP Courses are provided at different levels:– Undergraduate (Almost all universities);– Master (PUC & RULE);– Ph.D. (Not at all);• Lecturers/Professors– University lecturers/professors;– Senior officials from IP Offices;– Lawyers or judges.
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3. Development of IP Human Resource (5)• Methods of Teaching:– Combination: Theoretical and Practical– No exercises are performed and the interaction
between experts and students is still somewhat
limited.

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3. Development of IP Human Resource (6)• Training Materials– IP Textbook developed by Ministry of Commerce– IP Textbook developed by lecturers

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3. Development of IP Human Resource (7)• នី វិចិត្រ នីរិកម្មសិទ្ធិបញ្ញាកម្ពុជា (2013)• ឥន យ ឿន និងអ៊ុក វណ្ណារ័រន នីរិកម្មសិទ្ធិបញ្ញា (2013)• ខាំ ស៊ុម្ករា នីរិកម្មសិទ្ធិបញ្ញា (2011)• កាន់ ស៊ុទ្ធប៉ូលីន នីរិកម្មសិទ្ធិបញ្ញា សិទ្ធិអនកនិពនធ ម៉ាកត្បកាសនី បត្ររកកកម្ម(2009)13

3. Development of IP Human Resource (8)• IP Training Programs provided to various
beneficiaries:– Internal staff of private companies– The business community / SMEs
– A variety of stakeholders including lawyers, judges,etc.

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3. Development of IP Human Resource (9)• IP Training currently provided by:– Department of IPR– Department of Industrial Property– Department of Copyright and Related Rights– General Department of Customs and Excises– Lawyers’ Training Center (30 hours)– Royal School of Administration (15 hours & 20 hours)– Royal School for Judges and Prosecutors– Other institutions15

3. Development of IP Human Resource (10)• Department of DIPR
– Training of Trademark Agents– Training of IP Trainers– Workshops and Seminars Provided to Private
Sector– Training Programs in Cooperation with
International Organizations (JPO, WIPO, WTO,ECAP, etc.,)16

Trademark Agent Training• Two stages– In-class training stage covering ten topics asfollows (64 hours)– Writing examination (3 hours)

17Trademark Agent Training• Four batches:– First Batch (34)
– Second Batch (59)– Third Batch (30)
– Fourth Batch (68)18

3. Development of IP Human Resource (11)19Patent Attorney Training• APAA Patent Surgery Course– Four days
– Patent claim drafting– Number of participants (9)• Patent Office Training– Patent claim drafting– PCT training– JPAA• Other Patent Office Trainings
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3. Development of IP Human Resource (12)• Challenges in Cambodia– Methods of Training: Traditional Type– Human Capacity: Lack of trainers and competencein other fields of IP– Training Facilities– Training Programs are still limited21

4. Concluding Remarks• Developing comprehensive strategy for IP HRD in Cambodia
through the cycle of IP creation, protection and utilization.
• Building network of IP professionals and practitioners for IP HR
development purpose• Speed up training program for patent attorneys• Establishing short-term practical training programs for various
targets of private sectors– Curriculum development (for each target of private sector)– Training material development (e.g., standard textbooks)• Establishing and/or enhancing cooperation between IP offices andlocal training and education establishments• Promoting local training and education establishments (includingIPAC) with regional and international IP training institutes

22Thank you for your attention.

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